SparkFun Electronics - Venus GPS Logger with SMA Connector

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Venus GPS Logger with SMA Connector

sku: GPS-09171

Description: This is one of the smallest and most powerful GPS loggers on the market. The Venus GPS module can be configured to an amazingly powerful 10Hz update rate, with 14 channel tracking and can store up to 32Mbits of GPS data! Boasting 28mA operating current, and high sensitivity, this receiver seriously opens new doors for tracking. Module outputs the standard NMEA-0183 or SkyTraq Binary sentences at a default rate of 9600bps (adjustable to 115200bps).

The Venus634LPx has improved sensitivity, an integrated LNA (with multipath detection and suppression), built-in RTC, and integrated single power supply making it very simple to use. In addition, the module supports data logging with an external SPI Flash!

The logger's SPI Flash can be configured over the TX and RX pins using our USB to Serial FT232 Breakout Board.

Check out our GPS buying guide!

Features:

51 channel acquisition and 14 channel tracking
SkyTraq based chipset
10Hz max update rate (1Hz default)
Integrated LNA
Single 2.7-3.3V supply
3.3V TTL UART
32Mbits of flash space
Power: 28mA tracking
Sensitivity: -161dBm
Accuracy: <2.5m
Hot start: 1 Seconds
Cold Start: 29 Seconds
Supports active or passive antennas
Supports SBAS (WAAS, EGNOS, MSAS)

Dimensions: 1.25 x 0.75 inches

Documents:

Pricing

	55 in stock backorder allowed

$59.95	price
$53.96	10-99 (10% off)
$47.96	100+ (20% off)

	quantity

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Comments

27 comments

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	by jsampson +4.9 \| Apr 28, 2009 at 10:10am +0.23
Is there a version 2 planned for this board (and GPS-09133) that does not have the VBAT tied to 3.3V? It looks to me like both boards have pin 18 and pin 36 tied together under the chip where I can't get to it to cut the trace.

	by Helicopter +2.8 \| May 5, 2009 at 3:35pm 0
jsampson is right. Vbat and 3.3V (pin 18 and 2) are tied together so be carefull! do not hook up anything other than 3.3V!!! They shouldn't have made a Vbat pin if they were going to connect them. Also the default rate is 9600bps Thats what my Venus chip's default is and that's what is on the datasheet pg2.

	by a1ronzo \| May 6, 2009 at 10:13am
Yes, the next version will have VBAT connected to 3.3V through a jumper. For now, the VBAT pin is non-functional. Thanks for letting us know and sorry about that.

esixtyone

| Jun 1, 2009 at 4:33am

+0.16

Rather than just a jumper, I'd recommend a diode and series resistor between 3v3 and VBatt, maybe even a footprint on the bottom for an SMD supercap (VBatt to gnd). Although I haven't tested it (yet), a small supercap should keep VBatt above VBatt(min) (1.5V) for more than the 2 hours before a coldstart is done by the chip regardless.
Meantime, the connection between 3v3 and VBatt CAN be cut on this board. It is not connected under the chip.

This is a great GPS and the logger function works well.
The supplied software works well although even with the baudrate at 115200, the sw can't keep up at 10Hz update rate. (at least not on my pc!)

Time to first fix is snappy and as advertised, it even has no trouble acquiring indoors! (+26db active antenna)

	by LeatiX +1 \| May 12, 2009 at 4:09am 0
What are the GPIO 1 and 2 pins for?

	by Tracker +4.4 \| May 20, 2009 at 1:56pm 0
MCX/MMCX instead of SMA would be nice for future versions.

	by psm +1 \| May 24, 2009 at 7:41pm 0
If I read the Datalogging Datasheet correctly, the logging can be performed at a maximum rate of 1Hz, so if you want to log at 10Hz, you'll have to hook the device to a computer and log the data there. If that's the case, you may want to consider the GPS-09133, which is this same receiver without the flash memory.

	by esixtyone +2 \| Jun 1, 2009 at 4:51am 0
I set mine to an update rate of 5Hz, set Tmin to 0 and it DOES in fact log at 5Hz. The recorded time resolution is only 1 second, but there are 5 records with the same timestamp. I'm pretty sure 10Hz will work.

	by hps5 +1.3 \| Mar 7, 2010 at 5:02pm 0
I have following problem: I set the update rate to 5Hz (SRAM + Flash -> bad idea) and now I am not able to send any commands (beside hot and warm start) Baudrate is at 38400, receiving data (as before) over FTDI Basic. Error message: Timeout: GPS device no response. Any suggestion how to set the update rate back or to be able again to communicate with the gps? thanks in advance!

Waratah

+2.1

| Jul 24, 2009 at 8:52pm

I had this little guy up and running in minutes, I used the GPS-00177 antenna with built in LNA. This unit even picks up satellites on my workbench inside. The data sheet specifies a power save mode but does not go into detail. Does anyone know about this power save mode? the default baud rate is 9600 but if you want to download the log files you need to change to 115200. I down loaded my log file and decompressed it to kml and it looks great in Google earth but I need the track to show date and time. I am communicating to the device using xbee's so I can put the unit outside and test features, I wan't to install it into the car to log where it's been.

	by TCWORLD +1.3 \| May 6, 2010 at 9:10am 0
How did you decompress it to google earth? when i try to download, i get a file called data.log - which when opened in Notepad is just a load of € signs. If i try to click the compress button in the software, it starts to make a kml, but then just crashes. Any ideas?

	by tz +8.5 \| Jul 29, 2009 at 9:27pm 0
To ask again (other than something to do with a different ROM version), what are the GPIO pins for?

+8.5

| Jul 30, 2009 at 9:47am

Working well, through a Parani BT unit ( http://www.sena.com/products/industrial_bluetooth/esd.php - the smaller 200 unit which has the same width spacing and also uses 3.3v - 4 wires across after configuring the same baud rates on both and everything works).

It would help if I could confirm the PPS (which edge?) is at the UTC second interval accurate to N microseconds, and/or the relationship between the time reported (it reports down to the millisecond) of the NMEA sentences and the time it means? The start bit of the $ character in the GPRMC sentence? Some other character?

My other 10Hz gps (gblox based wintec - can't do 10hz waas) 99.9% of the time reports with zeros for the tens and ones milliseconds.

This information has to be somewhere but I can't find it.

+8.5

| Aug 16, 2009 at 1:21pm

+0.15

One problem/correction (please fix if you redo the board). I said it fits into a socket. Not quite. Nearly every other BOB I have is the same width - I'm using arduino pro-minis and this is a bit thick.

It is slightly wider than everything else though you can plug it into a standard .1 spacing socket, but the connections will be bent inward.

This is visible if you look closely in the photograph but is not really mentioned.

So it works, but I will probably go with the non-logging.

	by chrism07 +1 \| Feb 1, 2010 at 9:02am 0
Yes, I've noticed this too. And it is a problem that I hope gets fixed. The non-logging version doesn't have this problem.

	by ZeanZoul +1.5 \| Oct 14, 2009 at 7:49am 0
Is this the correct antenna for it? http://www.sparkfun.com/commerce/product_info.php?products_id=177

	by Jimmy +1.3 \| Oct 23, 2009 at 7:35am 0
I recently brought this GPS and also bought that antenna, both have been working great for me.

	by knguyen +1.5 \| Nov 16, 2009 at 4:40am 0
I connect this to a 3.3V power source that shows the module is taking 30mA. The antenna is Sparkfun GPS-00177 Both Rx and Tx are at HIGH (3.3V). No data! Does anyone know why ? Thanks!

knguyen

+1.5

| Nov 16, 2009 at 10:28pm

Please ignore my previous post. It's up and running now. One more thing I see is that it's not as sensitive as Sparkfun LS20031 module (although it should be better from spec). I'm using it with Sparkfun antenna GPS-00177 and it takes up to 5 minutes to lock (indoor, through wooden ceiling) while LS20031 takes much less time (~3 minutes). I will check with outdoor performance tomorrow. Does anyone ever compare these two modules? Thanks all!

	by Is24c +1 \| Dec 10, 2009 at 10:19am 0
Hi everyone...just bought this device but I cant make it work, I'm new at working with gps devices so am asking for your help. How should we connect this stuff??, is it correct to use a max232 to comunicate it with the computer?...thanks!

	by tz +8.5 \| Dec 14, 2009 at 7:00pm 0
I use the 3.3v FTDI breakout sold here. It provides power and had txo and rxi which go to the rx and tx on this board.

	by Is24c +1 \| Dec 16, 2009 at 11:19am 0
so, you dont believe that using it with a max 232 will work?...

	by Rukus +1.3 \| Jan 9, 2010 at 7:05pm 0
Where can I get the GPSVIEWER program. I tried to click on the link for this page but the zip is corrupt or something.

	by alekevin21 +1 \| Jan 18, 2010 at 3:38am 0
hi, i tried to send binary commands to my venus gps, but i did,t receive any answer. I simply connected the gps to the serial-usb coverter and to the antenna. What type of connection i have to do? Can you help me to send commands to gps? thank you very much.

Alberto-Madrid

+1.3

| Feb 23, 2010 at 3:46am

This GPS is very simple to use. If you only want to use it with SkyTraq software, you only have to connect tx and rx pins to rx and tx pins in the FTDI USB board and connect a 3.3V source. I couldn't use the 3.3V of the FTDI USB (maybe because the current wasn't enought due to the extension USB cable). Most of the problems with this GPS are related with not providing enough current, although the voltage is right, so be carefull with this. Once connected to the SkyTraq, you'll see something like this, after some time tracking satellites: http://img138.imageshack.us/img138/2058/gpsv.jpg

I have to say that although I bought two of these GPS, one of them didn't work properly. One of them connects almost inmediately, but the other only achieves to track one satellite with very few power and that after a long time, and never get the 3D position. I think it's a problem of the sensibility of the GPS chip.

Marion Rickard

+1.7

| Mar 2, 2010 at 7:35am

Is there any way to send a command over the serial connection to this VenusGPS to change the baud rate or the NEMA string selections WITHOUT using the GPSView software.

I have it working on an Arduino board. The sensitivity does not seem quite as advertised, but it more or less works. But I need to bump it up from the default 9600 bps and cut out a couple of the unnecessary NEMA strings.

What commands do I need to send it? I don't see them documented anywhere.

Jack Rickard

	by Marion Rickard +1.7 \| Mar 2, 2010 at 9:34am 0
http://www.sparkfun.com/datasheets/GPS/Modules/AN0003_v1.4.8.pdf Found it. This gives the binary command set. In Arduinospeak int baud38400 (160,161,0,4,5,0,3,1,9,13,10,0); Serial2.write(baud38400, 11); This will write the string for setting baud rate to 38,400 and save it to both SRAM and FLASH.